Who has the purple door?

phrontister · 2013-02-25 02:58:48

Ready!

That devious thought of mine didn't quite work out as I'd hoped, but I was able to use some of it to make a few alterations that I think add more variety and difficulty.

I've checked the puzzle from scratch and it seems to be ok.

Please check it too, and let me know what you think.

phrontister · 2013-02-25 23:14:11

Oops!! Looks like that last version has a loophole that leads to an early solution!

I discovered the shortcut while trying to see how far I could go without a certain clue in case I could alter it to improve the puzzle.

I'll check the version in post #44 to see if the problem occurs there too.

Making changes is fraught with danger!

EDIT: I think I've just found a fix for that loophole, and also a superfluous clue related to the fix. I'll check it all out, but I'm busy with something else until tomorrow.

Last edited by phrontister (2013-02-25 23:53:29)

ShivamS · 2013-02-26 02:34:03

Great puzzle. Finally managed to solve it.

phrontister · 2013-02-26 03:41:08

Excellent! Glad you enjoyed it!

Just out of curiosity, which version did you use? ie, from which of the posts on this thread.

You've probably noticed from all the posts here that the puzzle is still in a state of refinement, and we haven't quite got there yet with a final version. Hopefully the version you solved was one from which pRo9aMeR (the OP and composer) and I had ironed out most of the problems.

Did you notice any problems (eg, ambiguities) with the one you did?

Thanks for your feedback...it's nice nice to actually hear that someone has tried the puzzle!

Btw, would you like to post your solution? If so, please use the 'hide' box.

pRo9aMeR · 2013-02-26 16:10:11

Shivamcoder, I'm glad you enjoyed the puzzle! Like phronister said, the puzzle is not yet perfected to our liking but the second most recent version (post 44) is the best one we've come up with.

Phronister, yes, the most recent version does allow for a slightly premature solution. I'm gonna stick with the one before that for now. I'm updating the OP so that it shows that one (from post 44)

Last edited by pRo9aMeR (2013-02-26 16:10:46)

ShivamS · 2013-02-27 01:54:43

I used the one in the post 28, which I believe was the refined version.

Last edited by Shivamcoder3013 (2013-02-27 01:55:38)

digits · 2013-03-21 03:03:34

Phat phun! Indeed!

phrontister · 2015-04-15 04:31:26

Hi all,

I've just finished re-revising this old puzzle, as I wasn't totally happy with the last version. With this one I am, so here it is.

Major improvements:
1. Increased difficulty.
2. Trickier class-number solving.
3. Final solution is now at the end of the puzzle...which may differ depending on the solution strategy (but probably not).

Please let me know what you think of it.

Enjoy!

pRo9aMeR · 2015-04-15 10:41:41

wow phrontister! I'll have to give the puzzle ANOTHER spin~~ look forward to its "refurbishness"

phrontister · 2015-04-15 11:50:19

Hi pRo9aMeR!

I'd wondered if you were still around and would pick up this post. It's been a while!

You really cooked up a monster idea with this one, that's for sure. I've been meaning to tackle this for ages, but the puzzle is so huge and complex that it was rather daunting to try and implement any changes to it.

I've solved this revision a couple of times from scratch just to make sure it all worked, and have kept a record of the solution reasoning. That record came in very handy during the editing process!

Last edited by phrontister (2015-04-16 05:02:59)

phrontister · 2015-04-17 04:31:37

Hi pRo9aMeR,

Well, I just finished solving the puzzle again for a final check...and all is ok.

But - and wouldn't you know it! - of course I spotted a further improvement opportunity and have edited the puzzle again. The change mainly affects the class-number component and increases the difficulty level of its solution, but at the same time it fixes a clue that was a bit unsatisfactory but for which I hadn't been able to find a better alternative until now.

Latest revision:

Last edited by phrontister (2015-04-22 22:58:39)

Math Is Fun Forum

#51 2013-02-25 02:58:48

Re: Who has the purple door?

#52 2013-02-25 23:14:11

Re: Who has the purple door?

#53 2013-02-26 02:34:03

Re: Who has the purple door?

#54 2013-02-26 03:41:08

Re: Who has the purple door?

#55 2013-02-26 16:10:11

Re: Who has the purple door?

#56 2013-02-27 01:54:43

Re: Who has the purple door?

#57 2013-03-21 03:03:34

Re: Who has the purple door?

#58 2015-04-15 04:31:26

Re: Who has the purple door?

#59 2015-04-15 10:41:41

Re: Who has the purple door?

#60 2015-04-15 11:50:19

Re: Who has the purple door?

#61 2015-04-17 04:31:37

Re: Who has the purple door?

Board footer